H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, received Eng. Adel Alkaff Al-Hashmi, Chairman of the Royal Institute for Information Technology -- Middle East branch, at his office on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, and presented him with copies of his book, The Mirage, in Arabic, English, and French, as well as the ECSSR's commemorative shield.

During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi and Eng. Adel Alkaff Al-Hashmi addressed the topic of The Mirage, which discusses how groups adhering to political Islam exploit the religion to achieve their political ambitions and gain access to power. It introduces the idea of the "political mirage," which is the result of the illusion these groups are trying to promote among Arabs and Muslims, and examines how they try to exploit the true Islamic religion for political or personal interests. The book is a wake-up call for people who have been deceived by misleading slogans. It calls for the restoration of the role of the mind, diligence, thought, and reflection, and for Muslims to follow the true religion, which urges them to adhere to these good values.

H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi and Eng. Adel Alkaff Al-Hashmi reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research and the Royal Institute for Information Technology -- Middle East branch, in the interest of supporting the development efforts of the UAE, especially with respect to technological practices and strategies to transform the environment of the UAE into one that uses smart technologies in various sectors, as it is among the leading countries in its vision of the future, and believes in the role of technology in serving society.

For his part, Eng. Adel Alkaff Al-Hashmi has expressed his gratitude for the gracious reception and hospitality he received, and for being honored by H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi with the gifts of The Mirage and the ECSSR's commemorative shield. He also expressed his appreciation for the scientific and research role of The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, a prestigious Emirati scientific institution that plays an influential role in the system of scientific research and supports decision making, not only in the United Arab Emirates, but at the regional and global levels as well.

It is worth recalling that at the Annual Forum of the Royal Institute for Information Technology -- Middle East branch, which was convened in Abu Dhabi in November 2015, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, honored H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi for his strategic role and for the fruitful partnership he has engendered, from his position as Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, with the Royal Institute for Information Technology -- Middle East branch. Eng. Adel Alkaff Al-Hashmi, Chairman of the Forum and of the Institute, was in attendance at the time.